Predictors of the efficacy of non-drug treatments for non-dementia vascular cognitive impairment

Abstract

To study the predictors of the efficacy of non-drug multimodal therapy in the treatment of mild vascular cognitive impairment. Thirty patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment, under the supervision of their physician, received a 1-month non-drug treatment program including cognitive training, detailed recommendations for physical activity, and dietary planning. After the end of the course of treatment, improvements in the MoCa test were achieved by 22 patients (73%), which made up Group 1. In the remaining 8 patients, the treatment had no effect (Group 2). In Group 1, the dynamics of the MoCa test averaged 1.7±0.9, in the Group 2 it was (-0.4)±0.5. Patients of Group 1 had a significantly lower level of education (10.9±2.3) compared with Group 2 (14.9±2.0), a higher initial MoCa score, and a less pronounced white matter lesion on the Fazekas scale. After the regression analysis, the level of education (B -0.999, p<0.05) and white matter damage (B -2.761, p<0.01) were significant predictors. When using non-drug multimodal therapy in the treatment of mild vascular cognitive impairment, lower levels of education and a lower degree of white matter vascular damage are reliable predictors of treatment efficacy.